Water- bladder sack vs. Nalgene

[ZacM]

Hey all,

I will be participating on my first camino from St. Jean on May 28th. My bag has a 45L bladder sack but it gets to be a bit heavy for my liking. Should I use the bladder held in my bag or should I just use my nalgene bottle?

Thanks!

Zac

 

[NicoZ]

45litres?? Can't be. Maybe the whole backpack is 45litres?

You don't need to fill a bladder full.

The advantages of the bladders are you can sip /suck on it hands free. They tend to be weight balanced.

How much do things like that matter? Kind of depends.

 

[ZacM]

Whoops! I feel smart haha. The bladder is prolly around 1 gallon. I was thinking of just filling half way anyways so that may be what I do!

 

[Sojourner47]

Wow, a gallon is still a heck of a lot - most people seem to carry around 1 to 2 litres.

 

[colinPeter]

The advantages of the bladders are you can sip /suck on it hands free....

You can also use a "tube" and "bite valve" with the camelbak better bottle, if you prefer bottle and hands free. I have both but don't like the idea of trying to fill the "bladder sack" while inside the pack with my gear.
Buen Camino
Colin

 

[Deleted member 17908]

On a hike where I will not need to refill, I like the bladder. On my Camino (leaving May 30!) I'm anticipating refilling whenever water is available and it is MUCH easier to fill a bottle than take out and replace a bladder in a full pack. I'm bringing a Camelback"bite and suck" bottle plus another for extra water. Both are 750 ml. If you see someone pitifully waving an empty water bottle you'll know I've miscalculated!

 

[bdovan]

I also had the dilemma of bottle vs water bladder. I've decided to take a platypus bladder that is easier to fill than the one that was in the backpack. Between getting water at stops and meals, I hope to only refill the bladder once during the day (2 L), and bring a small bottle for back up on the side. I like the freedom and convenience of the sipping with the tube. If the platypus doesn't work out, I can always buy a bottle when I'm there. I start on May 30 from SJPP and hope to see some of you on the way.

Buen Camino
~Bic

 

[SYates]

Water bladders and there tubes are also very difficult to keep clean and bacteria grow easily in them. Consider using a PET bottle (soft drink bottle) instead. They are also easier to refill and to see how much water you have left over. SY

 

[julie]

Water bladders and there tubes are also very difficult to keep clean and bacteria grow easily in them. Consider using a PET bottle (soft drink bottle) instead. They are also easier to refill and to see how much water you have left over. SY

I much prefer a water bladder because it is so easy to take regular sips rather than gulping water when you're thirsty. Every so often fill it and the tube with water and Milton (used to sterilise baby bottles), leave it overnight and then rinse before filling with fresh water.

There is solution for those who like to sip but prefer a bottle so they can easily tell how much water is left - http://www.source-hydration.co.uk/acatalog/info_27.html

I bought one of these tubes in Sydney and they are also available in Decathlon (sports stores in UK, France, Spain etc). The pack comes with various size caps which screw on to a water bottle.